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Editor,
Ancient Native American Rock Art in Sinks Canyon depicting bighorn sheep confirms their lengthy history in the canyon. Long-time Lander residents know it wasn’t long ago that a thriving bighorn sheep herd lived in Sinks Canyon. Sadly, this herd is now gone.
Not far away, however, six surviving populations of wild bighorns exist in such places as the North Fork of the Popo Agie, Trout Creek, Crooked Creek, South Fork of the Little Wind River, and the Bull Lake areas. Considerable optimism for the return of bighorns to Sinks Canyon endures!
In fact, during the past few years, a few bighorns have trickled back into Sinks Canyon, attempting to rightfully reclaim the canyon as home territory. So, are bighorns on the brink of once again thriving in Sinks Canyon? The answer to that question is sadly no! Why not you ask?
The disturbing answer to that question is that the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, the very agency charged with enhancing the public’s wildlife populations, has shot every bighorn attempting to reclaim Sinks Canyon as home range. The latest incident occurred earlier this month. So, why would G&F kill these animals?
G&F claims that: “The bighorns involved were believed to have traveled from North Fork Canyon. Along their travels, bighorns can come into contact with domestic sheep where they occur. If we suspect commingling has occurred, we will euthanize the wandering bighorn sheep to protect the rest of the wild herd from diseases that can be carried from the domestic sheep.”
While we understand and support G&F’s desire to prevent future disease outbreaks, we ask; in this case, is killing bighorns desiring to reclaim their former habitat in Sinks Canyon a “reasonable precaution?” We think not!
G&F had no evidence—none—these bighorns came in contact with domestic sheep
during their travels. Additionally, those familiar with the North Fork bighorn herd know bighorns and domestic sheep have, for many years, co-existed in close proximity. Yet, neither the wild nor the domestic sheep show any apparent ill health issues from this co-mingling. Would not these bighorns, therefore, be the most ideal individuals to start a thriving new population in Sinks Canyon?
Additionally, wildlife in concentrated situations, such as the bighorns in the North Fork, or for that matter, in Sinks Canyon, can easily be treated for problematic diseases. Inoculating salt blocks, alfalfa cubes, or other suitable feed with antibiotics, other drugs, or minerals can help prevent and/or aid recovery from diseases. This, in our opinion, would have been a much more “reasonable” response than killing them. Killing bighorns attempting to return to Sinks Canyon is unnecessary, wrong, and should never have happened. We must impress upon G&F that such heavy-handed and inhumane actions are not acceptable.
Sinks Canyon WILD intends to hold public forums regarding this topic. We invite the community to attend these events in support of this effort. Help us ensure these killings never again happen.
Ron Smith
Lander
Sinks Canyon WILD!